Archbishop Ettore Balestrero, apostolic nuncio and permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, called for stronger defense of the dignity and rights of people with Down syndrome on Mar. 24. His remarks came during a side event hosted by the Jérôme Lejeune Foundation ahead of World Down Syndrome Day, observed on March 21.
The archbishop said that discriminatory practices linked to prenatal screening and selective termination of pregnancies targeting babies diagnosed with Down syndrome must be firmly rejected. The issue is significant as it touches on fundamental questions about human dignity, inclusion, and how society values individuals with disabilities.
“Persons with Down syndrome are more than a diagnosis, more than a condition, and certainly more than the limits others may imagine. All of them, like all of us, possess the same inherent dignity and sacred value, intentionally and lovingly imprinted by the Creator from the very first moment of conception,” Balestrero said.
He emphasized that people with Down syndrome “like everyone else, hold the same fundamental rights.” The theme for this year’s World Down Syndrome Day was “From Loneliness to Inclusion: Valuing Human Genetic Diversity to Enable the Effective Realization of Rights for Persons with Down Syndrome.” Balestrero called for promotion and defense of “the inherent dignity, fundamental rights, and transcendent value of all persons at every stage of life.”
Balestrero also stated that inclusion is not just about providing services or accommodations but about recognizing persons with Down syndrome as full members of communities. He acknowledged professionals and institutions dedicated to caring for individuals with Down syndrome worldwide.
“A system of care and support may be operationally perfect, but if it is heartless, it becomes cold and impersonal,” he said. Concluding his remarks he added: “May our collective efforts continue to build a culture of life and humanity where every person with Down syndrome is recognized as unique and unrepeatable, and welcomed with equal dignity and respect.”
